What situations, circumstances or experiences prompt your willingness to spend twice? I wonder …

As if paying once for an airline ticket isn’t enough, I paid twice. This past weekend I bought a one way ticket just to return home a day early?  This is a first for me in my life of better than 50 years. Normally I would just “tough it out” with my initial decisions and travel plans. Normally I would say paying anything extra is just way too extravagant and careless and wasteful, particularly when it comes to airline tickets.

But this situation I was called and nudged to return home. My son had been sick all week in my absence; client matters were getting too complex for distant attention; random office and family actions were hanging out waiting for energy. So what was different this time that allowed me to spend twice? I’m wondering.

Are there particular situations or circumstances that open the door to paying again? Or is it a matter of aging? Is there a particular energy of life (older versus younger) that softens such that one recognizes the finite life in this human form… and so, willingness to pay more is broadened?

Because this situation is not an emergency or urgent, my wondering seems rather random; but I am curious since this spontaneous change was new for me. What’s true for you and your willingness to spend twice? Are there situations, circumstances or experiences (other than emergencies) that open your willingness to pay again? I wonder…